Senior Associate Vice President for Research

Overview

Texas Tech University, a comprehensive, public research institution in West Texas, seeks a dynamic Senior Associate Vice President for Research to join its Office of Research & Innovation. The new SAVP for Research will play a key role in building on Texas Tech’s record investments in research, including research funding received from the Texas University Fund, a $3.9 billion endowment. In 2015, Texas Tech attained the designation as a Carnegie “Tier One” Research Institution and has advanced its position as a global research and innovation leader. Texas Tech aspires to be recognized as one of the preeminent (top 50) U.S. public research universities within the coming decade.

The Senior Associate Vice President for Research (SAVP) is an important leader in the research, scholarship, and creative activities of the University. This position is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of University Recognized Research Centers and Institutes and provides leadership and stewardship to support the research mission of the University. The SAVP works strategically to support Texas Tech faculty, students, and staff researchers; increase federally sponsored project funding; and help the institution achieve its ambitious research goals.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Innovation (VPR&I), the SAVP is supported by two Executive Directors – one focused on Research and Innovation and the other on building Strategic Research Partnerships – and an Executive Associate. The directors of nine research centers and institutes report directly to the SAVP. Additionally, two research institutes that report directly to the VPR&I, have dotted line reporting to the SAVP. As a key steward of the University’s research mission, the SAVP will provide broad strategic oversight and support to these Research Centers and Institutes, including those that report directly to the Vice President of Research & Innovation.

Qualifications

The VPR&I and university stakeholders anticipate and appreciate that each candidate will possess strengths in different measures. Nonetheless, the successful candidate will bring a majority of the following qualities to the role:

• A strategic and global perspective about the university research mission.
• Demonstrated administrative experience, including budget and people management (examples include, but are not limited to, having served as a chair of a major department, an associate dean for research, and/or a center/institute director).
• Understanding of faculty needs related to research and capacity to support faculty efforts.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a large management team.
• Strong management, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to work well with senior OR&I staff (non-faculty) as colleagues.
• Ability to evaluate, refine, and grow the Texas Tech research enterprise, positioning Texas Tech to achieve its goal of AAU status.
• Openness to engagement with and willingness to learn about different disciplines, departments, and Colleges at Texas Tech.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively organizing and managing large projects.
• A flexible mindset, with the ability to evaluate what is working and what is not, and to pivot when necessary.

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent academic degree) and five years of demonstrated academic leadership experience. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to support sensitive strategic research initiatives, including those involving projects regulated under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, the candidate must be able to work in environments subject to these regulations, either currently meeting or actively working to meet the requirements as specified by the relevant project sponsors.

It is anticipated that the SAVP will have a 10% appointment as a tenured full professor in an academic department within Texas Tech in alignment with candidate-specific qualifications.

In addition, the following qualifications are preferred:

• STEM background.
• Prior experience at an R1 and/or AAU member institution.
• Strong record of competitive extramural funding, faculty mentoring, interdisciplinary scholarship, and leadership.
• Experience addressing research administration and compliance issues in a complex organization; ability to balance federal, state, and local regulations with practical needs and limitations
• Experience leading multidisciplinary institutional centers or institutes.
• Experience in leading interdisciplinary research initiatives and developing successful international research partnerships.
• Experience with private-public partnerships, multiple federal, private sector, and philanthropic granting agencies.

The full position profile is viewable here.

To Apply

Texas Tech University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Partner, Ann K. Adams, Associate Partner, and KD Sweaney, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be submitted by email to KD Sweaney at kd.sweaney@opuspartners.net; applications, including a CV and cover letter, should be submitted via the Texas Tech application portal by May 30^th, 2025, for fullest consideration.  The search process will unfold with the greatest possible attention to candidate confidentiality.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.